Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to compare the gross morphological and biometrical investigation of abomasum in adult Bakerwali goat with nondescript goats and nondescript sheep of Jammu region. The abomasum was an elongated pear shaped sac with two extremities, two curvatures and two surfaces in all the three groups of goats and sheep species. Internally, abomasum presented obliquely oriented permanent longitudinal abomasal folds that extended from the sides of the abomasum in the direction of the greater curvature. These folds increased surface area which benefitted both excretory and absorptive functions. Towards pyloric area, instead of folds, substantially thicker ridges were seen. The empty weight of the abomasum was highest in Bakerwali goats (969.75±23.17 gm) whereas capacity showed no significant variation. In all the three groups, the greater curvature was longer than the lesser curvature. The number of internal abomasal folds did not differ significantly among species. The width of the abomasum was maximum at the middle of the fundic region and minimum at the pyloric region. The thickness of the abomasal wall increased from the cardia to the pylorus, being greatest at the pyloric region. The length of both fundic and pyloric regions was higher in Bakerwali goats (19.00±0.43 cm and 10.98±0.41 cm, respectively) compared to the other species. Overall, the study indicated species related variations in the biometrical characteristics of the abomasum in small ruminants.